Rab Nexus Hoody review

The Rab Nexus Hoody is a lightweight, no-fuss fleece designed for active use, offering just enough warmth without weighing you down. At 308g, it punches above its weight in heat retention, making it a solid mid-layer for cooler conditions or a breathable outer for high-output activities. With a close-fitting hood and stretchy Thermic™ fabric, it moves well and layers easily—ideal for those who want warmth without bulk.

Intro

Where the Rab Nexus Hoody sits in the range?

I’m always interested to see what niche my jackets are designed to fit into and how they complement the manufacturer’s wider range of gear. It’s pointless critiquing a jacket for lack of insulation and heat retention when a better question would be, “Is it adequate for the type of activities I enjoy?”

The Rab Nexus Flex is a lightweight fleece sitting at the lower end of the price range. Weighing a tiny 308g, the hoody may be light but it has seriously good heat retention qualities which, to my mind, is the key indicator of a quality mid-layer. 

Next up the price ladder are the Modulus Pull-on and the Capacitor Hoody, two kind of similar jackets although both are heavier, (the Modulus weighs 375g and the Capacitor 398.5g) and, in my experience, less breathable than the Nexus. Whilst both have more insulation I find them less suitable for fast moving activities.

At the top of the range is the Original Pile Jacket, which has excellent heat retention qualities, weighs a massive 785g and costs £135. It’s a great option for staying warm when you’re static but hiking in it will turn your body in a sack of sweat. Keep it handy for very cold or windy days. 

So, the Nexus Hoody sits about, or just below, the middle of Rab’s range of fleece mid-layers and is designed to be a midlayer for active use, or on milder days.

Rab Nexus Hoody Features

The Rab Nexus hoody is a simple jacket. As a mid-layer it doesn’t need or have a swathe of features, which I like. The hood is close-fitting with no adjustments or elastic cord – it simply wraps around your head and gives a good degree of protection to my ears and cheeks. The stretchy material has enough give to accommodate those extra larges biceps and pecs some hikers have without feeling restricitire.

Unlike many jackets, the bottom hem of the jacket does not have elastic drawcords. For me this is not a deal breaker as I have no use for them.

Storage is minimal with two external zippered pockets and, on the jacket’s inside, two ‘poachers’ pockets formed by the open stitching of the external pockets. I do find these inner pockets useful as storage for items I want fast access to without having to completely undo my shell layer. They’re a good place for storage maps, safety gear such as a whistle or small first aide gear.

The external zip pockets are big enough for the usual gear I take hiking: my phone, snacks, GPS, etc.

I’m not sure if this is a design feature, but it’s easy to turn one of the pockets inside out, stuff the entire jacket inside and zip it closed. The Nexus could likely compress even smaller in a compression sack, but I avoid taking extra gear in my rucksack. It doesn’t go quite as small as you could probably get it in a compression bag, but it’s pretty neat and compact and definitely makes for a nice easy way to organise your bag and find the jacket when you need it. 

The double-cuffs are comfy, stretchy and elasticed enough to provide a snug fit that prevents wind from whistling up the sleeves. At the top of the main zip are what appear to be chin-guards, although I could wrong – they may be there to reinforce the jacket at what is commonly a weak point. Either way, these soft fold of material place a soft barrier between my chin and the hard fabric of the zipper. One point to note before I move on – the Nexus hoody’s zipper is one way only.

Rab Nexus Hoody Specifications

As discussed above, the Nexus hoody weighs a ridiculously light 308g. Two of my other lightweight fleeces weigh in at 350g and 378g and, even though they are 5 years old, makes me feel they fit more in the mid-weigh category. The Nexus’s light weight gets a big thumbs up from me.

The interior fleece of the jacket has a grid pattern, which Rab has dubbed ‘Thermic G’ the design of which contributes massively to the insulating properties. This grid is a huge step up from traditional fluffy pile found in fleece jackets as I’ve found it enhances the breathablity of the Nexus. Rab also claim the use of Thermic G reduces the overall weight, but I reckon any claimed reduction is minimal, possibly only a few grammes.

Review Criteria

In assessing the Nexus, I’m interesting in how it performs in realistic conditions it’s designed for:

• Does it work as lightweight insulation for active use?
• Does it work for layering with other clothes when static or in very cold conditions?
• Is it comfortable, and are the features suitable for the use for which it’s intended?

Field Testing Details

I’ve worn this jacket for over three months of testing, in conditions ranging from mild spring days to temperatures well below freezing. I’ve used it for active hiking and as a easy to pull on layer when stopped to rest or eat/drink and as a lightweight layer carried in my Deueter Guide rucksack on on long trail runs. During that time, it has been used in wet and dry conditions to test the speed at which it dries.

I’ve used it in pretty much every weather condition you could expect to encounter in the UK. I would have liked to have tested the jacket in a more extreme climate such as Alaska, but was unable to get there this year.

Performance

I have two use-cases for the Rab Nexus Hoody: pulling it on when I pause or stop hiking on a cold day; as an alternative to a shell layer during warmer weather. And it’s the near-perfect for both scenarios – the snug fit and heat retention qualities make it ideal for both situations.

In both the above cases, the jacket is more than adequate for making you feel cosy but not over-hot – the perfect combination when you’ve spent the last couple of hours hiking to a ridgeline only to be battered by high winds. And the he ability to pull the hood up just adds to the overal sense of cosiness the Nexus gives.

I do have to say this – whilst the Nexus is breathable and lightweight, it’s too warm to be worn when you’re moving at speed even in a temperate climate. Hiking at a reasonable 6km per hour whilst wearing this jacket left me a sweaty mess after about 25 minues.

All in all, it is a good layer to put on when you stop for a break or you’re hiking on a milder day. There are other options on the market which are lighter again but I feel they lack the insulating qualities found in the Nexus.

Thanks to the relativey tigh but not restrictive fit, it works underneath a rainproof. My go-to shell layers are the Montane Pac Plus and Rab Kinetic Alpine 2.0, both of which are slim fit, and the Nexus fits under them with ease and restriction in movement or mobility.

Weather-resistance

I have to admit to being somewhat spectical about the jacket’s resistance to wind; and I’m pleased to say I was wrong. I’ve worn it in biting, cold winds and as soon as I’ve put it on, I was barely able feel them anymore. Even the usual spots where winds leaks in – the seams and stitching points – are resistant. The construction and fabric do a great job of keeping teh wind at bay.

What about rain-resistance? It’s not. If you wear the Nexus in wet weather, and without a decent shell-layer, you’ll get wet fast. However, it does dry quick. In most cases, and water ingress will evaporate in a very short space of time, maybe 30 mins when hiking at a moderate pace, and the material sheds water fast.

Fit and Construction

The jacket is intentionally cut fairly slim, with the expectation that it’s likely to be worn as an active layer, underneath other layers, or under a rain shell. Although I normally wear a hiking t-shirt, I’ve found the Nexus will easily accommodate a thicker layer such as Brynje Super Thermo or a denser Merino wool base layer such as those made by Rhino. But don’t go too crazy trying to fit too many layers underneath otherwise you’ll restrict mobility.

Summary

Overall, the Rab Nexus Hoody is a great value lightweight, flexible mid-layer that does a truly great job of keeping you warm. It’s light and looks great on the trails or, I have to admit, in the coffee shop! The barely noticeable weight and small pack size make it ideal for chucking into your rucksack, especially if you’re travelling light and fast with limited carrying capacity. All in all, it works really well for the use-case – a lightweight, no frills and very warm fleece.

Buy the Rab Nexus Hoody if:

• You need a lightweight fleece mid-layer for mild weather, or an extra layer in very cold conditions.
• You need something to keep you warm but not over-heated while active on colder days.
• You want a mid-layer that is uncomplicated does what it says on the tin.

Don’t buy the Rab Nexus Hoody if:

• You want lots of pockets.
• You want to adjust the hood and cuffs.
• You want a two-way zip.